ISLAMABAD, Dec 4: The Supreme Court was informed on Thursday that the federal government had made up its mind to pursue its appeals relating to candidature of the Sharif brothers.

“I have been told clearly to pursue the case but need some more time to prepare the case since the matter involves important points of law,” Deputy Attorney General Agha Tariq Mehmood told a three-member bench comprising Justice Mohammad Moosa K. Leghari, Justice Syed Zawwar Hussain Jaffery and Justice Sheikh Hakim Ali.

The bench took up the appeals of the federal government and others against the June 23 LHC order which disqualified Nawaz Sharif from contesting a by-election in NA-123 (Lahore), but kept pending another petition challenging the candidature of Shahbaz Sharif until an election tribunal decided the matter.

At the last hearing, the Supreme Court had decided to proceed ex-parte on the appeals because of Sharif brothers’ failure to attend proceedings despite repeated summons.

On Thursday, Ahmed Raza Khan Qasuri, appearing on behalf of Syed Khurram Ali Shah, a voter, and Noor Elahi, an independent candidate, opposed long adjournment of the cases and said these should be heard as early as possible.